A Heartfelt Thanks

Since retiring earlier this year I have had more time to devote to one of my passions -- staying in shape. I have been able to do more biking and hiking than ever and it helped get me in the best shape I have been in for decades. Two weeks ago I could bike 125 miles or hike 20 miles without a problem. So it was disconcerting when I started to feel a pain in my arms when I exercised a few weeks ago. At first, it would go away after 15 or 20 minutes of hard exertion but after a few days it got progressively worse. Sunday, I went for a walk on a flat road and had to stop a couple of times because I was out of breath and the arm pain was so intense. Monday, I couldn't even walk up my driveway without stopping to catch my breath and to let the arm pain subside.

I told Rosie about the problem on Saturday when we went for a ride on our tandem bike and she had to do more than her share of pedaling. With none of the risk factors that typically apply to heart issues -- Family members under 55 who have had heart disease, cholesterol problems, smoker, overweight, sedentary lifestyle... -- I assured Rosie, "If there is one thing I am not worried about it is my heart." But I knew I had something seriously wrong and my mind kept dwelling on things like cancer. I couldn't help but think I may have done my last hard bike ride or difficult hike and that my life was about to change dramatically.

Monday I went into Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and had a battery of tests to assess the situation. Because the pain was localized in the arms and I never felt any chest or neck pain it didn't fit the classic heart problems description. Tuesday I went back for an echo stress test and it was immediately clear the problem was indeed with my heart. The cardiologist showed me a comparison of the test to the one I did in 2007 and it was like night and day. It was obvious I had a big problem with my main artery.

Thursday I went in for an angiogram and the cardiologists found a 98% blockage on my main artery. Fortunately, they were able to put a stent in right then that opened up that blockage and should hold it open. That appeared to be the only problem so I avoided any serious heart surgery. Yesterday (Friday) I came home and I'm already well on the road to recovery.

I dodged a bullet. While the scans below are not real clear (click on them for a larger, better image), you can see a picture of my heart and the arteries "pre stent". The blockage (circled) is obvious and when the cardiologist described this to us he said that "every drop of blood had to fight to get through that place. If it had closed completely you would have had a massive heart attack." The second scan is "post stent" and shows how clearly the blood is flowing through the artery now.

Over the last few days, many people have said to me, "It isn't fair that you have a problem with your heart." Perhaps they are right, but I learned long ago that life is not fair and it never will be. It also isn't fair that I have been blessed beyond measure in virtually every way. I have been given the best wife in the world, eight marvelous children, a wonderful career, a fabulous family, innumerable friends and blessings beyond measure. No, life is not fair -- but I wouldn't trade the hand that I have been dealt over my 53 years with anyone else. The good Lord has been more than fair with me.

This week I have had some time to reflect on the past and the future. Here are a few things that have dominated my thoughts:

• I feel more compelled than ever to make the most of every moment we are given. "Carpe diem" (Seize the day). Life can change in moment. Who knows what the future will bring or if there will even be a future.
• I'm deeply grateful for the freedom I have at this time of my life to be with Rosie and the children and pursue my dreams.
• Good health is perhaps the greatest blessing we can be given (without it what else can you fully enjoy) and we should make every effort to keep our bodies in excellent condition. I'm thankful for the miracles of modern medicine and dedicated doctors and nurses who change people's lives daily.
• My family and friends, as always, have been absolutely great as I worked through this new challenge. What would life be like without the great people around me.
• There is great power in prayer and I am certain the good ending was at least in part due to the many prayers offered in my behalf.
  

I am very thankful for this new lease on life as I still have many trails to hike, roads to bike and mountains to climb.

Dad We Love You.

We are all thinking of you and thinking of how much we love you.

Biking In Banff

Tuesday morning and early afternoon the rain came down in buckets. That did a number on our long planned bike ride of the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise. There is a major divided highway that connects Banff and Lake Louise but there is also the Parkway that runs parallel to the highway. It is 31 miles long and is closed in the evenings during certain times of the year because of the multitude of animals crossing the road before the sun sets. There are few cars on this road as almost all opt for the much faster highway (speed limits on the Parkway do not exceed 35 MPH). The road has some significant elevation changes in some parts -- one hill was so steep that we exceeded 45 MPH on our descent without even pedaling -- but much of it is fairly flat. Marc and I have been training for this ride and others. Last week we climbed Chinnook and Cayeuse passes and then climbed the road to Sunrise in one afternooon.

When we were here two years ago we drove around a corner and saw a biker waving his arms and realized there was a grizzly right behind him! When I saw that I was determined to bring my bike and ride what is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world. The surrounding mountains and rivers are truly spectacular.

This afternoon when I had given up on the weather and was ready to get on my workout clothes and ride the stationary bike in the hotel, I saw a glimpse of blue in the sky. Indeed it looked to be clearing, so we decided to go for it. The evening was perfect for a ride. We rode a total of 62 miles -- 31 each way -- and every inch was gorgeous. The only disappointment was that we did not see any bears -- I guess that was a good thing as I did not bring the bear spray and I understand a grizzly can easily run over 30 miles/hour.

However, we did have a little excitement with the wildlife as you can see below (I wanted to go back and take a few more good pictures with these elk but Marc wisely talked me out of it when one of these guys didn't look very pleased with us).


Here are a few more pictures of the ride. These were all taken with Rebekah's point and shoot camera as we rode along at about 20 MPH. You might note in these pictures that Marc is riding my prized bike, "The Red Rocket" and I am riding "old Red" as I can't get the seat low enough to fit him on the old bike.





We ended this unforgettable day with some Ben and Jerry's ice cream and a trip back to the Bow Valley Parkway well after dark to see some very impressive meteors in the annual August 11-13 meteor shower. It was indeed a day to remember. I'm grateful for a wonderful son who will join me on these adventures.

Banff National Park

The two conquering heroes at the Base of Moraine Lake. Note the bear spray on my right hip. We were ready if one decided to pursue us but we saw no traces of the elusive Grizzlies.

Marc and I left Enumclaw on Sunday for a quick trip to Banff National Park in Canada. We were anxious to get in some hiking and biking in what I consider the most beautiful place in the world -- if you exclude Switzerland.

The drive was a little over 11 hours and went through some gorgeous country. Monday morning we went straight to Moraine Lake -- a jaw droppingly beautiful place above Lake Louise. The water in the lake is an arrestingly greenish blue that is unlike any other I have seen.

We were excited about hiking above Moraine Lake but as we hit the trailhead we were confronted with a sign that said because of "grizzly issues" all hikers had to be in groups of four or more. If you are caught in a group less than four you are subject to a fine of up to $5,000!. That got our attention -- the fine, not the bear scare -- and we thought we would have to change our plans. We went down to the Park Visitor's Center and they told us to go to the trail head and we would likely find a couple of people to go with us. Sure enough, when we got back up to the trail head there were two other couples ready to go on the same hike (Sentinel Pass) we wanted to take and we joined them. One couple was from Holland the other from Germany. All four of them spoke excellent english and they were delightful to hike with.

Our hike took us to the Valley of Ten Peaks and up to Sentinel Pass (about 8,500 feet above sea leave) where we had a stunningly beautiful 360 degree view. Total miles hiked for the day exceeded twelve so it was a good workout. Before we went back to Moraine Lake we hiked over to Eiffel Lake. It was an unforgettable day and the number of incredibly beautiful views were beyond measure. Here are a few photos of the hike.

Marc and our hiking group in the Valley of Ten Peaks (you can only see seven in this photo).

On the trail to Sentinel Pass which you can see just to the right of my shoulder.
Marc is walking along a glacier lake just below Sentinel Pass
We are at the pass looking back toward the Valley of Ten PeaksAt the pass looking the other way
Marc above Moraine Lake

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad!
I hope you are having a fun and wonderful birthday. I love you and thank you for everything you have given to us, working so hard. you are the best, we are so blessed. love you